Ex-Lightning prospect Eero Somervuori had 1 goal and 1 assist in a first star effort to lead HIFK to a 3-2 win over JYP. The game marked a rare loss for goaltender Riku Helenius. Ex-Lightning forward Eric Perrin also had a goal in the game for JYP. They face HPK on Tuesday.

Nikita Nesterov was -1 with a minor penalty as Chelyabinsk Jr. took a humiliating 5-1 loss at the hands of Stupino. The defenseman has been stuck at 30 points for a few games now. He'll have to wait until Tuesday against Khabarovsk Jr. to see if he can snap out of his slump.

It hardly seems possible, but Nikita Kucherov was out of the lineup for CSKA Jr.'s punishing 10-1 win over Novosibirsk Jr. I know some young men from Siberia who regret getting off the team bus today. CSKA Jr. gets Novokuznetsk Jr. on Monday.

Vasily Koshechkin suffered the rare case of losing a game despite posting a shutout in Cherepovets' 1-0 shootout loss to Mytischi. The netminder stopped 4 of 6 chances in the shootout, but could not hold Alexei Kovalev and Dmitri Upper out in the defeat. Koshechkin did finally manage to catch fellow Lightning prospect Riku Helenius in shootouts, posting his 6th of the season, but he's still 13 points behind Helenius in save percentage despite a more than respectable .926 save percentage for the season. Cherepovets faces St. Petersburg on Friday.

In Chelyabinsk, neither Nikita Kucherov nor Nikita Nesterov got the call for the matchup between their KHL sides where the polar bears thumped CSKA 5-3.

On this Valentine's Day, I think we all can find something to love in the continued resurgence of goaltender Riku Helenius, who posted 16 saves en route to JYP's 4-1 win over TPS. Ducks draft pick Sami Vatanen scored 2 goals in the match for JYP. They face Ilves next on Friday.

Nikita Kucherov had a power play goal and a minor penalty in CSKA Jr.'s 4-2 win over Chelyabinsk Jr. Fellow Lightning prospect Nikita Nesterov was -1 and took an unspecified game misconduct at 16:35 of the match. We'll see now if Kucherov returns to CSKA's KHL team and whether Nesterov faces disciplinary action after today's result. CSKA Jr. faces Omsk Jr. next on Thursday while Chelyabinsk Jr. draws KHK MVD Jr. on Thursday, as well.

Today's head-to-head matchup of Lightning prospects comes on the heels of Saturday's MHL All-Star Game where the West defeated the East 4-2. Nikita Nesterov was -2 with a minor for interference for the losing East side. Nikita Kucherov did not suit up for the match, but his teammate Nikita Gusev had a pair of helpers for the victorious Team West.

Nikita Nesterov had a power play helper and a slashing minor in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 4-3 shootout loss to Kazan Jr. Nesterov did not get an attempt in the penalty shot session. Chelyabinsk Jr. is now off until 2-14 when they'll play CSKA Jr.

Riku Helenius made 34 saves and was named the game's first star in JYP's 2-1 win over SaiPa. Helenius' rise has gradually gone, over the course of the season, from a cute story, to a bit of a phenomenon, to now something that bears serious consideration. No one expected him to keep posting shutouts in 40% of his starts, but he's now consistently winning games and only allowing 1-2 goals in the process. He leads the SM-liiga now in GAA and save percentage and he's still tied for the lead in shutouts. For an organization so starved for goaltending as the Lightning's, they can't afford to ignore #31 for JYP. JYP is now off until Tuesday, February 14, when they'll play TPS. They've now climbed into 4th on the SM-liiga table. The Sweden Hockey Games leg of the Euro Hockey Tour will be played February 9-12.

Vasily Koshechkin spelled starter Vadim Tarasov 8:42 into the second period and allowed 1 goal on 15 shots in Cherepovets' 4-2 loss to Minsk. Ex-Devils first rounder Nicklas Bergfors had a helper in the match for Cherepovets. Cherepovets faces Poprad on Thursday.

Johan Harju scored the shootout winner to lift Lulea to a 1-0 win over HV 71. Remember, shootout winners count as goals in the stat column in Sweden. Lulea draws Vaxjo on Thursday. Lulea has climbed to 2nd place in the Elitserien, just 1 point back of Skelleftea.

Former Lightning forward Eric Perrin had a hat trick and an assist, too, in JYP's 5-2 win over Tappara. Lightning prospect Riku Helenius was named the game's third star after stopping 30 shots in the victory. JYP faces Espoo on Saturday.

Nikita Nesterov had a power play goal and a shorthanded assist and somehow managed to earn an even rating in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 10-2 loss to Yaroslavl Jr. He also took a pair of minors for roughing in the match. Chelyabinsk Jr. faces Novgorod Jr. on Sunday.

Is this the week where we learned Nikita Nesterov has outgrown the MHL? He had an even strength goal and assist and was a gaudy +5 today in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 5-2 thumping of Ekaterinburg Jr. He also took a minor for hooking in the match. Chelyabinsk Jr. faces Yaroslavl Jr. on Friday.

You know, a point a game pace is impressive, but a goal a game pace is borderline ridiculous. That's what Nikita Kucherov's MHL season looks like after he had a hat trick today in CSKA Jr.'s 9-4 win over Poprad. One of Kucherov's three talleys came on the power play and he also took a double minor for roughing as the game got chippy late in the third period. CSKA Jr. is off until Wednesday when they'll play Bobriusk.

Roll on, Riku Helenius. Roll on. The young netminder allowed only a Mikael Granlund third period goal in JYP's 3-1 win over HIFK. The goal was assisted by former Lightning draft pick Eero Somervuori and Granlund's brother Markus. The two teams re-match on Saturday.

Nikita Kucherov had an even strength goal and assist in the second period of CSKA Jr.'s 4-3 shootout loss to Riga Jr. He also took a pair of minors in the period, as well, but did not get an attempt in the shootout session. CSKA Jr. skates again on Sunday against Poprad.

Nikita Nesterov had an even strength and a power play assist in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 4-3 shootout loss to Magnitogorsk Jr. The 2 points put Nesterov at 19 for the season, which matches his total from a season ago, which he put up in 46 games. Chelyabinsk Jr. plays Ekaterinburg Jr. on Sunday.